Muscovy hen setting question??

[zook]

One of our two hens has taken to partly setting on some eggs. They have a duck house with a small area (6 sq feet) at the back with 2 nest areas. The one girl has been sitting on eggs for periods during the last few days today will be the third day. Yesterday she spend about 5-6 hours of the day out in the yard the rest of the time on the eggs. Yesterday I counted 9 eggs today 11 so both girls are still adding eggs.

I have two questions. 1. Does the brooding duck that will stay on the eggs for the whole time stop laying when she is going to set full time on the eggs? as she is still adding to nest. 2. Should I have the other girl kept overnight to mid morning elsewhere so she can't keep adding to the eggs in the nest.

The drake also sleeps in the outer room of the duck house just during the nights. He is very good and does not bother the nest, eggs or girls at night. Its actually just sleeping quartersand a place to be out of the wind and rain as the rest of the time they are outside.

I would like to have a good hatch but no sure of the above issues.

 

[Going Quackers]

Yes,they usually accumulate what they feel is the right amount and 'set' .. normally you see pulled feathers and the um, i will kill you if you come close attitude, plus when they come out for a walk, feed etc they chirp are fluffed up and pretty hostile towards others birds lol

It's up to you on separating the girls, i usually don't.. they sort themselves out, the only time i worry is shared nests, those don't end well in my experience.

Drake wise, i only block my ladies with young for the first few days, just to get their feet under them because i free range and it's a big flock i feel this is needed beyond that i do nothing more and let the mama watch and return the kids to safe areas.. BUT the caveat should be added drakes are known baby killers.. i have not had issues as they don't usually cross that mama but it's worth a mention because it's not beyond the realm of possibility so do be cautious.

Good luck with your hatch! i have 3 broodies right now.. totally not planned. they pulled those off when i was busy lambing lol

 

[zook]

There are pulled feathers in the nest and both girls cheep at me now anytime I go out. I made the duck house that the top roof lifts up, so I can check inside. Once she see's the lid go up her talking becomes more intense but is quite lovable still (can bend over and pet her). The nest is shared by her and another duck. They both lay in it. So if the other duck wants she can still lay in it. I'd never keep track of newer eggs though. Its the sharing of that nest I worry about.

So do your ducks stop laying eggs when they begin setting in earnest? Once I see the setting and no additional eggs is that when I should start counting days?
This is what her nest was like yesterday when she went out for food. There is another nest box right beside it and never gets used. Yesterday she was off the nest from 7am till noon ,but today she is back on the eggs after only 1 hr of feed, water and bathing.